‘Opera Week’ coming back to Western New York, Canada

If you think a night at the opera is something, how about a week at the opera?

Opera Week, a success last year, is back.

An international initiative, some Opera Week events take place at Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre, where the Canadian Opera Company is beginning its fall season. Many Opera Week celebrations, though, are close to home.

3 p.m. Sunday, Villa Maria College Auditorium (240 Pine Ridge Road, Cheektowaga): The Cheektowaga Community Symphony Orchestra and Music Director John Landis presents “Verdi and Wagner at 200,” featuring the Buffalo Choral Arts Society, Marcia Giambrone, director, in choruses and orchestral excerpts from the operas of two opera greats, both born in 1813. Music is included from Verdi’s “Il Trovatore,” “Nabucco” and “Otello”; and Wagner’s “Lohengrin,” “Die Meistersinger,” “Tannhauser” and “Tristan und Isolde.” Admission is by free-will donation.

The Canadian Opera Company presents a new production with the Houston Grand Opera and the San Francisco Opera of Giacomo Puccini’s “La Bohème.” Carlo Rizzi conducts. Performance time is about two hours and 10 minutes, including one intermission. It’s at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Four Seasons Centre (145 Queen St. West, Toronto). Call COC Ticket Services at (416) 363-8231.

Opera Atelier starts its season at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Elgin Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) with “The Abduction from the Seraglio.” Mozart’s comedy is set in Turkey and features lots of glitter and flash, plus some of the most challenging music ever written for voice. Directed by Marshall Pynkoski, the production features the Artists of Atelier Ballet, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Gerard Gauci’s set designs. For more information, visit www.operaatelier.com.